18 May 2019
Editors: At the end of the release, there's information on how to access high-resolution photos.
SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA — New is the name of the game in Sonoma County, California, this month, with new hotel rooms, new tasting rooms, new restaurants, and new activities joining the already delightful bounty of things to see, do, and enjoy in Sonoma Wine Country.
Here's a quick overview of what's new in Sonoma County in May 2019.
LODGING
Hotel E accepting reservations for July opening
Book now for a stay in downtown Santa Rosa's historic Empire Building and adjacent 19 Old Courthouse Square building, which are transforming into the Hotel E, a 71-room four-star boutique hotel.
The iconic Beaux Arts Empire Building portion of the hotel will open in July with 39 guestrooms, 1,000 square feet of divisible meeting space, and The Enology Lounge, a combination wine bar, living room, and lobby. Reservations for this first phase of the project are being accepted at hotelesantarosa.com.
The portion of the hotel at 19 Old Courthouse Square will open later this year. It features an additional 29 guestrooms and two suites with private decks, plus a large public courtyard for relaxing, eating, and drinking, a roof deck café, a fitness center, and additional meeting space. This second phase of Hotel E will also include a Starbucks and the first Wine Country location of Perry's — an iconic, family-owned San Francisco dining institution and bar, serving breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner.
Centrally located in Santa Rosa's Old Courthouse Square, Hotel E is a joint project of Greystone Hotels and the Hugh Futrell Corporation. A courtyard connects the two portions of the hotel.
Hotel E
37 Old Courthouse Square
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
707-481-3750
www.hotelesantarosa.com
Media Contact
Mandy Beck
415-392-2232
amandab@cinchpr.com
Hampton Inn & Suites Rohnert Park now pet-friendly
Sonoma County visitors traveling with a furry companion now have another lodging option available at Hampton Inn & Suites Rohnert Park, which recently became pet-friendly.
Dogs up to 50 pounds are welcome in any of the inn's 102 guestrooms. The family-friendly inn also offers a complimentary hot breakfast, free Wi-Fi in the rooms and lobby, a business center with printing services, a fitness facility, an outdoor pool, and a 24-hour beverage station complete with coffee, tea, and hot chocolate in the lobby.
Plus, the inn is just slightly more than a mile from Rohnert Bark, a one-third-acre, fenced dog park that offers two exercise areas, one for small dogs and one for large ones. Rohnert Bark is next to Robert's Lake, a reservoir inside a charming and shady city park. The city of Rohnert Park also offers two other fenced dog areas, where canine companions can relax off-leash.
Hampton Inn & Suites Rohnert Park
6248 Redwood Drive
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
707-586-8700
bit.ly/Hampton_Inn_RP
Media Contact
Scott Holly
520-838-1288
sholly@commonwealthhotels.com
WINERIES
Coursey Graves opens Healdsburg tasting room
Enjoy an intimate tasting experience at the new Coursey Graves tasting room in downtown Healdsburg, just off the historic Healdsburg Plaza.
Owner John Graves and winemaker-owner Cabell Coursey focus on discovering and celebrating lesser-known vineyards that yield some of the world's most exceptional fruit, and making wines in perfect reflection of place, expressly crafted to improve with age.
Seated tastings ($35) include a local artisan cheese board, while walk-in tastings ($25) are wine-only. Reservations are encouraged; walk-ins are welcome.
Coursey-Graves Tasting Room
113 Mill St.
Healdsburg, CA 95448
707-867-1888
www.courseygraves.com
Media Contact
Coursey Graves
707-867-1888
info@courseygraves.com
RESTAURANTS & EATERIES
Whisper Sisters Cocktails & Provisions debuts in Petaluma
Sip creative cocktails (or mocktails) while nibbling on shared, farm-to-table, small plates in a relaxed lounge atmosphere at the new Whisper Sisters Cocktails & Provisions in Petaluma, in southern Sonoma County.
This cocktail-driven restaurant is the collaborative creation of Danielle Peters, former bar manager of The Drawing Board (previously located at the same site), her fiancé Erin Clossey, and her older brother Wendell Peters. The cocktail menu includes drinks like Frothy By Nature, made with mescal, amaro nonino, passion fruit, lemon, egg white, and bitters; the Winter Sweater, using rye, sloe gin, cynar, cinnamon, lemon, and chocolate bitters; and the Torch Singer, with sipsong gin, carrot, blanc vermouth, citrus, and celery bitters.
A quick sampling of the food items includes togarashi spiced popcorn, sweet potato tacos, chicory and asparagus salad, and cheese or meat boards featuring selected local products. There are three choices for dessert — chocolate bread pudding, key lime cup, and lemon sorbet.
Whisper Sisters Cocktails & Provisions
190 Kentucky St.
Petaluma, CA 94952
707-774-6689
www.wspetaluma.com
Media Contact
Danielle Peters
707-774-6689
info@wspetaluma.com
Family-friendly Corks & Taps features beer, wine, bites
Celebrate the spirit of Sonoma County in a casual countertop-service setting at the new Corks & Taps in Windsor, in central Sonoma County.
It's not unusual to find owners Floyd and Nicole Wells at one of the local Sonoma County taprooms or visiting one of the smaller wineries. This is their dream, to open their own place where they can share their passions with others.
Located just steps from the bustling Windsor Town Green, this small, family-friendly restaurant specializes in wine and beer. Whether you are interested in a glass of wine after work, kombucha with a light snack, or a pint with dinner, you'll find it here in a setting where friends, family, and acquaintances are welcome to enjoy life together.
A wide variety of bites are available, including a cheese and charcuterie board, a hummus plate, chicken tenders, Caesar salad, mini corn dogs, and a selection of cheese melts and flatbreads. The kids' menu includes a half cheese melt, a kid corn dog, and a cheese quesadilla.
Corks & Taps
1001-1007 McClelland Drive
Windsor, CA 95492
707-837-5654
www.corksandtapssc.com/
Media Contact
Nicole Wells
530-400-3702
corksandtapssc@gmail.com
Two Dog Night Creamery opens Windsor site
Enjoy fresh, farm-to-cone ice cream in delicious seasonal flavors at the new Two Dog Night Creamery in Windsor, in northern Sonoma County.
The organic ice cream and cones are handmade daily using fresh (never frozen) organic dairy products from local farmers. The small batch ice cream is frozen using liquid nitrogen, which means little air is whipped into the cream, resulting in an ultra creamy, dense texture. Sample seasonal flavors include Blueberry Pie, with organic blueberry preserves and cinnamon streusel, and Yuzu Lemon, which blends lemon, mandarin orange, and grapefruit.
The original Two Dog Night Creamery store in The Barlow center in Sebastopol is temporarily closed after the February floods, but will reopen soon.
Two Dog Night Creamery
9240 Old Redwood Highway, Suite 100
Windsor, CA 95492
707-837-5965
www.twodognightcreamery.com/
Media Contact
Two Dog Night Creamery
jwilson@twodognightcreamery.com
707-837-5965
TOURS & EXPERIENCES
Explore Sonoma Valley on a horse
Explore a beautiful winery by riding through the vines on seasoned, gentle horses with the help of an experienced, friendly guide from the new Sonoma Valley Trail Rides company. After your ride, enjoy a world-class wine tasting and/or picnic designed especially for you.
Michelle Rogers blended her love of horses and wines to create Sonoma Valley Trail Rides, providing a unique way to visit and experience the incredible Sonoma Valley, in eastern Sonoma County. The company offers trail rides for guests 12 years and older, with horses suitable for riders of all levels of horseback riding experience. Thanks to the valley's temperate climate, trail rides are offered year-round. Go riding at a winery or at a nature and art preserve. Reservations required.
Sonoma Valley Trail Rides
Various locations
Sonoma, CA 95476
707-343-5511
sonomavalleytrailrides.com/
Media Contact
Sonoma Valley Trail Rides
707-343-5511
sonomavalleytrailrides@gmail.com
The Spa Gourmet adds private food & wine pairing experience
Taste premium wines paired with delicious gourmet goodies in the comfort and privacy of your Sonoma County vacation rental with The Spa Gourmet's new Food & Wine Pairing Experience.
The Spa Gourmet is the creation of husband and wife team, chef Trip Fuchs and massage therapist Cindy Scott-Fuchs. Each has more than 20 years of experience in their respective crafts, and they combine their expertise with a dash of southern hospitality. Together they can turn your Sonoma County vacation villa into a private luxury spa and gourmet restaurant for a day.
For their newest offering, Chef Trip delivers seven hand-picked Mayo Family Wines paired with tapas-style portions, complete with wine pouring and presentation in your chosen Sonoma County vacation spot. The deluxe package includes luxurious spa treatments.
The Spa Gourmet
Various locations
Kenwood, CA 494-7374
707-494-7374
thespagourmet.com
Media Contact
Trip Fuchs
707-494-7374
tripper.fuchs@gmail.com
Goodness Gracious! offers yoga, brunch, bubbles
Center yourself with a yoga class then enjoy a chef-prepared plant-based brunch and a glass of Sonoma sparkling wine with the new Private Yoga + Brunch and Bubbles experience offered by Goodness Gracious! Private Chef and Catering company at your Sonoma County vacation home.
Founded by chef Lauren Kershner in 2016, Goodness Gracious! offers a wide range of unforgettable culinary experiences in Sonoma County, including private chef services, small event catering, a romantic dinner for two, packaged or plated picnic lunches, private cooking classes, health and nutrition counseling, and more.
For this newest offering, professional yogi Sandi McKenne leads a 75-minute, multi-level vinyasa yoga class in the comfort and privacy of your vacation rental, either inside or outdoors. After becoming refreshed and stretched, take a seat at the dining table for your private, chef-prepared, farm-to-table brunch, with plant-based “meats” and “cheeses,” and savor it all with a glass of sparkling wine.
Goodness Gracious! Private Chef and Catering
144 W. Spain St., #10
Sonoma, CA 95476
707-972-4029
www.goodnessgraciouseats.com/yoga-and-brunch
Media Contact
Lauren Kershner
707-972-4029
cheflauren@goodnessgraciouseats.com
THE ARTS
Kuhr-Norris Studio moves around the block
It's only a short jaunt (about 250 feet) from the original Kuhr-Norris Studio & Gallery location on Main Street to its new site on First Street on the Guerneville downtown plaza, in western Sonoma County.
Featuring black and white film photography by Suzy Kuhr and plein air and studio paintings by Katharine Norris, the gallery opens each month for Guerneville's First Friday Artwalk, when local art galleries, shops, and restaurants welcome art lovers and other visitors. The gallery is also open more frequently during the summer (although it doesn't currently have a set schedule), or by appointment.
Kuhr-Norris Studio & Gallery
16203 First St., Unit B
Guerneville, CA 95446
707-486-1130
sites.google.com/site/kuhrnorrisstudiogallery/home
Media Contact
Katharine Norris
707-486-1130
katharinefrances@gmail.com
# # #
Experience Sonoma County, where Life Opens Up. Just as wine “opens up” when it's allowed to breathe, Sonoma County inspires visitors to open up to new experiences. Just 30 miles north of San Francisco, Sonoma County is one of California's top food and wine destinations, home to more than 425 wineries ranging from rustic to regal. Hike among towering redwoods, cruise along rugged Pacific coastline, and get to know inviting small towns. Or, just sit back and take it all in. Because here, you're free to go your own way.
For a free visitors guide or information on hotels, wineries, events, spas, attractions, and dining in Sonoma County, visit www.sonomacounty.com or call 707-522-5800.
Birgitt Vaughan
Director of Global Media Relations
Sonoma County Tourism
400 Aviation Blvd., Suite 500
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
707-522-5826
bvaughan@sonomacounty.com
Editors: High-resolution photos can be found at
sonomacounty.smugmug.com/PhotoLibrary/Whats-New
Password: SonomaPassion
